Antigen Presenting Cell highlights evidence that antigen presenting cells (APCs) are not only key players in the initiation or prevention of an antigen-specific T lymphocyte-mediated adaptive immune response, but also critical regulators and integrators in the immune system.

Contents

Antigen Presentation in the Immune System

• Some Old and Some New Findings on Antigen Processing and Presentation
• HEL Processing
• Selection of Peptide Segments of HEL
• HEL: Conformational Isomers
• Negative Selection and Peripheral Activation to HEL Peptides
• Response to HEL Immunization in the Draining Lymph Node

Molecular Mechanisms of Antigen Processing

• Antigen Entry Routes – Where Foreign Invaders Meet Antigen Presenting Cells
• Antigen Entry via the Gastrointestinal Tract
• Antigen Entry via the Skin
• Systemic Dissemination of Antigens/Infectious Microorganisms
• Antigen Presenting Cells in the Liver

Antigen Processing in the Context of MHC Class I Molecules

• Tracing the Needle in the Haystack: The Efficiency of Antigen Processing and Presentation by MHC Class I Molecules
• The “Classical” Route: Loading of MHC Class I Molecules With Peptides Generated in the Cytoplasm
• Crossing the Border – Peptide Translocation into the ER by TAP
• Fitting in the Best: TAP-associated Peptide Loading Complex Optimizes MHC-I Peptide Binding
• On the Way Out: MHC-I Antigen Processing along the Secretory Route
• Closing the Circle – Cross-presentation of Endocytosed Antigens by MHC-I Molecules

Antigen Processing for MHC Class II

• Types of Antigen Presenting Cells
• Antigen Uptake by APCs
• Generation of Antigenic Peptides
• Assembly of MHC II Molecules
• Export of MHC II and Organization on the Cell Surface
• Viral and Bacterial Interference

Antigen Processing and Presentation by CD1 Family Proteins

• CD1 Genes and Classification of CD1 Proteins
• Structure and Biosynthesis of CD1 Proteins
• Foreign Lipid Antigens Presented by Group 1 CD1
• Self Lipid Antigens Presented by CD1
• Group 2 CD1-restricted TC ells
• Tissue Distribution of CD1 Proteins
• Subcellular Distribution and Intracellular Trafficking of CD1
• Antigen Uptake, Processing and Loading in the CD1 Pathway

Antigen Presenting Cells’ Ligands Recognized by T- and Toll-like Receptors

• Naturally Processed Self-peptides of MHC Molecules
• Milestone Events
• Progress in Sequence Analysis of Natural Peptides
• Natural Class II MHC-associated Peptides from Different Tissues and Cell-types
• The CLIP Story
• Outlook: Natural Peptides as Diagnostic or Therapeutic Tools

Target Cell Contributions to Cytotoxic T Cell Sensitivity

• Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1)
• Major Histocompatability Complex (MHC)

Stimulation of Antigen Presenting Cells: from Classical Adjuvants to Toll-like Receptor (TLR) Ligands

• Synopsis
• Pathogen-associated Features that Drive Efficient Immune Responses
• Composition and Function of Adjuvants
• TLR Protein Family in Mammals
• TLR Signaling
• TLR-independent Recognition of PAMPs: Nods, PKR and Dectin-1
• Therapeutic Potential of TLRs and their Ligands

The Repertoire of Antigen Presenting Cells

• Evolution and Diversity of Macrophages
• Evolution of Macrophages: Immunity without Antigen Presentation
• Diversity of Macrophages in Mammalian Tissues

Macrophages – Balancing Tolerance and Immunity

• Balancing Tolerance and Immunity
• Ramifications of the Paradigm: Asthma
• Ramifications of the Paradigm: Autoimmunity
• Summary and Conclusions: Towards Immune System Modeling and Therapeutics

Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils as Antigen-presenting Cells

• PMN as Antigen-presenting Cells.
• Evolution of Newer Thoughts as PMN March to a Newer Horizon

Microglia – The Professional Antigen-presenting Cells of the CNS

• Introduction: Microglia and CNS Immune Privilege
• Do Microglia Differ from Other Macrophage Populations
• To What Extent is Microglial Phenotype Determined by the CNS Microenvironment
• Microglia versus Macrophages/Dendritic Cells as Professional Antigen-presenting Cells
• TREM-2 Positive Microglia may Represent Subsets Predisposed to Differentiate into Effective Antigen-presenting Cells
• Are Microglia the “Professional Antigen-presenting Cell of the CNS

Contribution of B Cells to Autoimmune Pathogenesis

• Autoimmunity and Immune Deficiency
• Disturbed Homeostasis of Peripheral B Cells in Autoimmune Diseases
• Signal Transduction Pathways in B Cells
• B Cell Abnormalities Leading to Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Depleting anti-B Cell Therapy as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy

Dendritic Cells (DCs) in Immunity and Maintenance of Tolerance

• Dendritic Family
• DCs at Various Stages of Maturation
• Immature DCs
• Homing of DCs into Secondary Lymphoid Organs
• DCs as Adjuvants
• DC Subsets
• DCs in TC ell Polarization
• TolerogenicDC
• Mechanisms of Tolerance
• CD28-B7 Bidirectional Signaling
• Crosspriming
• Cross-presentation and Cross-tolerization
• DC as Regulators of TC ell Recirculation
• DC-based Immunotherapy of Cancer

Thymic Dendritic Cells

• Thymic Dendritic Cells
• Localisation and Isolation of Thymic DC
• Pickup of Antigens by Thymic DC
• Subtypes of Thymic DC
• Major Thymic cDC Population
• Minor Thymic cDC Population
• Thymic pDC
• Maturation State and Antigen Processing Capacity of Thymic DC
• Cytokine Production by Thymic DC
• DC of the Human Thymus
• Turnover Rate and Lifespan of the Thymic DC
• Endogenous versus Exogenous Sources of Thymic DC
• Lineage Relationship and Differentiation Pathways of Thymic cDC
• Lineage Relationships and Developmental Pathways of Thymic pDC
• Thymic cDC do not Mediate Positive Selection
• Thymic cDC and Negative Selection
• Role of pDC in the Thymus

Antigen Presenting Cell-based Drug Development

• Antigen Presenting Cells as Drug Targets
• Roles of DC in disease
• Marketed Drugs Affecting APC function
• New Potential APC Drug Targets
• APC per se as Drugs – DC-based Immunotherapy Therapy

Index

click here to see books • videos • cd-roms of related interest